Main Difference
The main difference between Liquor and Liqueur is that the Liquor is a alcoholic beverage that is produced by distilling and Liqueur is a alcoholic beverage, sweetened and flavored distilled spirit.
Liquor
Liquor (also hard liquor, hard alcohol, spirit, or distilled drink) is an alcoholic drink produced by distillation of grains, fruit, or vegetables that have already gone through alcoholic fermentation. The distillation process purifies the liquid and removes diluting components like water, for the purpose of increasing its proportion of alcohol content (commonly expressed as alcohol by volume, ABV). As liquors contain significantly more alcohol, they are considered “harder” – in North America, the term hard liquor is used to distinguish distilled alcoholic drinks from non-distilled ones.
As examples, this term does not include beverages such as beer, wine, mead, sake, or cider, as they are fermented but not distilled. These all have a relatively low alcohol content, typically less than 15%. Brandy is a liquor produced by the distillation of wine, and has an ABV of over 35%. Other examples of liquors include vodka, baijiu, gin, rum, tequila, mezcal, and whisky. (Also see list of alcoholic drinks, and liquors by national origin.)
Liqueur
A liqueur (US: , UK: ) is an alcoholic drink flavored variously by fruits, herbs, spices, flowers, nuts or cream combined with distilled spirits. Often served with or after dessert, they are typically heavily sweetened and un-aged beyond a resting period during production, when necessary, for their flavors to mingle.
Liqueurs are historical descendants of herbal medicines. They were made in Italy as early as the 13th century, often prepared by monks, (as in Chartreuse). Today they are produced the world over, commonly served straight, over ice, with coffee, in cocktails, and used in cooking.
In some areas of the United States and Canada liqueurs are also referred to as cordials or schnapps, though the terms refer to different beverages elsewhere.
Liquor (noun)
A liquid, a fluid.
Liquor (noun)
A drinkable liquid.
Liquor (noun)
A liquid obtained by cooking meat or vegetables (or both).
Liquor (noun)
A parsley sauce commonly served with traditional pies and mash.
Liquor (noun)
Strong alcoholic drink derived from fermentation and distillation; more broadly, any alcoholic drink.
Liquor (noun)
In process industry, a liquid in which a desired reaction takes place, e.g. pulping liquor is a mixture of chemicals and water which breaks wood into its components, thus facilitating the extraction of cellulose.
Liquor (verb)
To drink liquor, usually to excess.
Liquor (verb)
To cause someone to drink liquor, usually to excess.
Liquor (verb)
To grease.
Liqueur (noun)
A flavoured Cordials are a type of liqueur manufactured using the infusion process as opposed to the essence and distillation processes.
Liqueur (verb)
to flavor or treat (wine) with a liqueur
Liqueur (verb)
to top up bottles of sparkling wine with a sugar solution
“Every champagne has to be liqueured after its disgorgement, to replace the inevitable loss.”
Liquor (noun)
alcoholic drink, especially distilled spirits.
Liquor (noun)
liquid in which something has been steeped or cooked.
Liquor (noun)
liquid which drains from food during cooking.
Liquor (noun)
the liquid from which a substance has been crystallized or extracted.
Liquor (noun)
water used in brewing.
Liquor (verb)
dress (leather) with grease or oil.
Liquor (verb)
steep (something, especially malt) in water.
Liqueur (noun)
a strong, sweet alcoholic spirit, usually drunk after a meal
“an Italian almond-flavoured liqueur”
“fruit cocktail laced with liqueur”
Liqueur (noun)
a chocolate with a liqueur filling
“a box of liqueurs”